Cáncer de pulmón

Si tienes síntomas de cáncer de pulmón, debes programar una visita a tu médico. Su proveedor de atención médica le preguntará sobre su salud y sus antecedentes familiares y le realizará un examen. Luego trabajarán juntos para planificar sus próximos pasos, que pueden incluir pruebas de imágenes.

Las pruebas de imágenes le brindan a su equipo de atención imágenes detalladas de sus pulmones u otras áreas de su cuerpo para detectar cáncer. Algunas pruebas por imágenes se utilizan para detectar cáncer de pulmón, mientras que otras pueden buscar signos de que el cáncer se ha propagado:

• Chest X-ray: A chest X-ray is a noninvasive imaging test that creates a picture of the inside of your chest. You may undergo further testing if your doctor sees a chest mass or possible lung tumor.
• CT scan: A low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan with low radiation is the recommended screening test for lung cancer for eligible patients. The actual scan only takes about five minutes and you can find cancer even before you have symptoms.
• MRI: An MRI of the lungs uses magnets and radio waves to create detailed images. MRIs are most often used to provide further insights about lung cancer after it has been diagnosed.
• PET: During a PET scan, a small amount of radioactive material is injected into your blood. This material shows where cancer cells are in the body, which helps diagnose and stage your lung cancer.

Las células cancerosas de pulmón se pueden encontrar en el esputo, la mucosidad que se expulsa de los pulmones al toser. Con la citología de esputo, se tomarán muestras de este moco y luego se enviarán a un laboratorio, donde se observarán con un microscopio.

A thoracentesis provides a fluid sample and can relieve symptoms of fluid buildup. During this procedure, a doctor inserts a needle into the space between your chest wall and lung to retrieve fluid for testing.

Una biopsia toma muestras de tejido para analizar si tiene un nódulo pulmonar en una prueba de imágenes o cáncer de pulmón que puede haberse extendido a otras áreas. Luego, estas muestras se envían al laboratorio y se analizan para detectar signos de cáncer de pulmón.

• CT-guided needle biopsy: During this type of biopsy, a needle is guided into the nodule or mass in your lung to take a tissue sample.
• Broncoscopia: In a bronchoscopy, a doctor inserts a thin tube down your throat and into your airways to look inside the lungs and take samples. The procedure is used to both diagnose and treat symptoms of lung cancer.
• Thoracoscopy or video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS): Toracoscopia is a surgical procedure that uses a scope and a tiny camera inserted through a small incision to video your lungs. It allows your care team to take tissue samples and drain fluid and can also be used during lung cancer treatment.
• Endobronchial ultrasound: An endobronchial ultrasound uses ultrasound technology during a bronchoscopy to help your doctor view the inside of your lungs and airways. It’s used to diagnose lung cancer and take samples of nearby lymph nodes.
• Endoscopic esophageal ultrasound combines an ultrasound with an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a camera) to view the upper digestive tract. In lung cancer, it may be used to let your team reach nearby lymph nodes for biopsy.
• Mediastinoscopy or mediastinotomy: These procedures allow your team to take samples of the lymph nodes in the middle of your chest. Mediastinoscopy uses a small incision and scope to reach the area between your lungs under your breastbone. Mediastinotomy is slightly more invasive and uses an incision between two ribs near your breastbone.

La cirugía suele ser una de las principales opciones de tratamiento en las primeras etapas del cáncer de pulmón de células no pequeñas. No es un tratamiento estándar para el cáncer de pulmón de células pequeñas. El objetivo es extirpar la mayor cantidad posible de cáncer de pulmón y, a menudo, estos procedimientos se realizan mediante técnicas mínimamente invasivas.

• Segmental or wedge resection: These surgical procedures remove only a segment of a lung lobe or a wedge-shaped area of tissue that contains the lung tumor.
• Lobectomy: A Lobectomía is one of the most common surgical procedures for lung cancer. It removes the entire lobe where the tumor is located.
• Pneumonectomy: Neumonectomía is surgery that removes your entire lung on one side. It’s used when the location or spread of the lung cancer doesn’t allow for a lobectomy.
• Sleeve resection: This surgery removes part of a bronchus, one of the large air passages connecting to your windpipe. The remaining end is then reconnected to the lung.

The primary type of Terapia de radiación for lung cancer is external beam radiation. It uses high-energy rays from a machine outside the body to target specific areas of cancer. It’s sometimes used along with surgery or chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells. In people with advanced lung cancer, radiation therapy is a treatment to manage symptoms.

La radioterapia corporal estereotáctica, también conocida como radiocirugía, utiliza haces de radiación altamente dirigidos desde muchos ángulos diferentes para destruir áreas de cáncer. A diferencia de la radioterapia tradicional, es posible que sólo necesite uno o dos tratamientos. Es más común como tratamiento para el cáncer de pulmón de células no pequeñas, donde la cirugía a menudo no es una opción.

There are several different types of Quimioterapia used to treat lung cancer. These drugs typically work by stopping fast-dividing cancer cells from multiplying. Chemotherapy may be used before or after surgery, especially for non-small cell lung cancer. In small cell lung cancer, chemotherapy is often the primary treatment.

La terapia con medicamentos dirigidos se dirige a anomalías (o marcadores) específicas en las células cancerosas para detener su crecimiento. Como las terapias dirigidas solo funcionan en cambios o mutaciones celulares particulares, es posible que usted se someta a pruebas de biomarcadores para decidir si estos medicamentos podrían funcionar en su cáncer.

Lung cancer cells may have certain features that prevent your body’s immune system from identifying them as harmful. Inmunoterapia utilizes your immune system, helping it recognize and attack cancer cells. This treatment can be used with or without chemotherapy for operable and non-operable lung cancer.

Your care team may recommend supportive palliative care for lung cancer. Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life, managing symptoms and providing additional support services. You may choose to continue other treatment options while receiving palliative care.